Khabib Nurmagomedov, 30, says he doesn't 'have a lot of fights left'

• Khabib Nurmagomedov, 30, said he doesn't "have a lot of fights ahead" during a recent conference call, according to MMA Junkie.
• The Russian wrestler defends his UFC lightweight title for the second time on Saturday when he fights Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.
• He previously said he would want to fight Tony Ferguson next, rather than Conor McGregor.
• Though Nurmagomedov said he doesn't want to still be fighting when he's 40, he still has a "fire" burning inside him which motivates him to build his legacy while he can.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov says he doesn't "have a lot of fights ahead" in his career because he doesn't want to still be fighting when he's 40 years old.

The Russian wrestler, unbeaten in 27 professional mixed martial arts bouts to date, fights for the 28th time on Saturday when he defends his UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at the UFC 242 event in Abu Dhabi.

It will be Nurmagomedov's second defense of the lightweight championship, having beaten Conor McGregor in one of the biggest UFC fights of all time at UFC 229 last year.

On a recent conference call, Nurmagomedov was asked about his future, and whether he had ever thought about retirement.

"I'm not a young fighter," the 30-year-old said, according to MMA Junkie. "I've already been champion for years. I've already defended my title. This is my second defense. Of course, I don't have a lot of fights ahead, because I don't want to fight when I'm 40 years old. This isn't my plan. We'll see."

Nurmagomedov previously said that if he beats Poirier this weekend then he wants to fight Tony Ferguson, the well-rounded Californian on a 12-fight win streak, next, rather than rematch his Irish rival Conor McGregor.

And though he doesn't want to compete late into his 30s, he did say he still has a "fire" burning within as he looks to build a legacy as one of the most dominant athletes in the sport.

"Before I make a decision, I have to talk with my father [Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov], I have to talk with coach Javier [Mendez], all my brothers, Dominance MMA [his management team], and all the people around me."

"Right now, I'm focused on competition because I have too much fire inside me."

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